If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You may have to register
before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

I've not really kept up with the CPC. I know it has an active retro scene with a few games still developed amd a demo scene. Plus I've heard of a few hardware projects. I'm wondering if the build in drives can be replaced with a floppy emulator amd with something like your project tape drives too. It would make me more interested in maybe getting hold of the hardware in the future.

Sent from my SM-T520 using Tapatalk

If you haven't played a classic game in years, it's never too late to start!

I only find the MSX interesting for its own original library.
The Spectrum conversions of games feel kinda cheap to be honest. I know there was no budget for the developers to completely redevelop titles for more powerful hardware or make a separate MSX version of a game at the same time, but it gives the feeling that there was little or no interest from Western developers to make titles uniquely for the MSX. Just another platform they could put their games on.

However I have tried the Ultimate games, Elite, and the Magic Knight Quadrology. Having never owned a Spectrum it's been interesting to play games that I have played so much on both MSX and C64 (not the Ultimate games though).

The MSX was certainly a flop in Britain and although some games are improved on the MSX over the Spectrum there are also a lot of poor conversions.

Where the MSX truly came in to it's own was the Konami cartridge titles. The ability to improve the sound and add memory made the games expensive but far superior to other 8-bit conversions. The MSX2 and the MSX2+ are really where the machine shone but by the time they were released we were getting in to the 16-bit generation.

The past few months has seen me archiving MSX cassette games in English as they haven't been done in the past so it's been fun trying games that I possibly wouldn't normally have tried.

However I have tried the Ultimate games, Elite, and the Magic Knight Quadrology. Having never owned a Spectrum it's been interesting to play games that I have played so much on both MSX and C64 (not the Ultimate games though).

I definitely remember Ultima's Jetpac, it is the game that got me into gaming in the first place
Also played some other Ultimate games like Pssst but I never got the hang of Lunar Jetman until I played the remake.
Ultimate was definitely one of the more popular developers for the Spectrum. I do wonder how their games hold up today.

I have heard about the Magic Knight games before but I wonder what kind of games they are. From the screenshots on World of Spectrum I get a sort of 'Dizzy' adventure game vibe.

hmm, Elite, I doubt it will be any different than other ports. Starstrike 3D and Starstrike II are more arcade oriented but perhaps you might like them.

Do please tell us about your experiences after you have played more games.

Where the MSX truly came in to it's own was the Konami cartridge titles. The ability to improve the sound and add memory made the games expensive but far superior to other 8-bit conversions. The MSX2 and the MSX2+ are really where the machine shone but by the time they were released we were getting in to the 16-bit generation.

Definitely, Konami was the king of the MSX, and so many of its games started on it (next to Arcades),
It is a shame a MSX3 was never made as I am honestly curious what games for it had been like. Perhaps Mode 7 like on the SNES.

There are handful of MSX2/MSX2+ games that are still worth to play. Not going to mention the obvious ones but definitely try out some of Konami's less mentioned games such as Circus Charlie or Penguin Adventure.
One game I also really enjoy on the MSX is Psycho World. Decent platformer that also got a Master System/Game Gear conversion, MSX version is the best though.

Wish you lived nearby so I could visit you and also have a go with your Spectrum.

Earth is like a 24 hour, Seven days a week Stupidity contest which has been running for centuries.
And every time they are ready to pronounce a winner, a new contender appears on the scene.

* * * *

He has seen half the universe who has not seen the house of pain (Ralph Waldo)

The differences with the versions of Elite are mostly graphics but there's also the differences in missions and ships. MSX Elite on disk is supposed to be the most complete 8-bit version but it also the most terrible for docking. It has to be played to be seen.

Finders Keepers is in gameplay to Jet Set Willy, Manic Miner etc but it's the follow ups where it all changes. Definitely not Dizzy. Hate all the Dizzy games. Lol

Not really a fan of Elite. I know it for the important role it played in game design, helping giving rise to the open world games. I am not really a fan of it as I prefer games with that have a narrative and a little more linear and goal oriented.
What is the reputation of the ZX Spectrum version.

Finders Keepers is in gameplay to Jet Set Willy, Manic Miner etc but it's the follow ups where it all changes.

I had a look at the games on Youtube. The first definitely like those games you mentioned while the later ones are more like a graphic adventure game, complete with an over elaborate user interface.
I would most likely not played those games without a walkthrough or hint book at my side as I don't think it would be that friendly for people like me who have never played an adventure game less advanced that the Secret of Monkey Island.

Definitely not Dizzy. Hate all the Dizzy games. Lol

I always found the Dizzy games so nauseating cutesy looking, all the egg people reminded me of the Smurfs.
And what is the deal with the boxing gloves when the character never hits enemies (At least I think he doesn't).

Never heard of Psycho World but I'll have to give it a try now.

I think it is undeserved forgotten. Sure it did not set any new standards for platform games but what did the genre right and was also a little bit of a technical accomplishment on the MSX regarding the scrolling.
Check out Gryzor on the MSX2, going from one screen to another. The same with Castelvania/Vampire Hunter.
Imagine the impact those two games would have had if they had scrolling similar to their NES counterparts.

Last edited by Ghost; 20th March 2016 at 22:08.
Reason: addition

Earth is like a 24 hour, Seven days a week Stupidity contest which has been running for centuries.
And every time they are ready to pronounce a winner, a new contender appears on the scene.

* * * *

He has seen half the universe who has not seen the house of pain (Ralph Waldo)

Gryzor was one of my favour games in the 8 bit era. Remember it is also called and better known as Contra. The Amstrad CPC version looked and played brilliantly. It's only limitation was flip screen in the sideway sections, rather than scrolling as in the original arcade and some other versions.

For the MSX the most famous games have to be the Konami releases and especially Metal Gear.

In later years on the Spectrum a lot of developers started developing games in b/w and for me this worked really well. This allowed them to disguard the colour clash issues and concentrate on my graphical detail. There was a favourite of mine called Escape from Colditz I used to part stood a friend's house.

Sent from my SM-T520 using Tapatalk

If you haven't played a classic game in years, it's never too late to start!

Outside the NES and a handful of home computers (including the Commodore 64), I think almost every platform had difficulty running Contra as it was suppose to be.

For the MSX the most famous games have to be the Konami releases and especially Metal Gear.

Definitely but there were also a handful of other good developers/publishers for the MSX. Sadly a lot of their titles never reached Western shores and thus never got translated. Well at least not during the MSX's active years, only years later by fans.
I could look up which other companies could stand up next to Konami.

Also, don't forget Konami's SD Snatcher.

In later years on the Spectrum a lot of developers started developing games in b/w and for me this worked really well.

Ah that explains that explains why so many of the titles I checked out on World of Spectrum where in Black and White (or Yellow and Black).
Yeah the graphics really improved when the developers started to focus on two or three basic colors for MSX games. The color clashing was really annoying sometimes, I also notice it in the games released more recently for the ZX Spectrum.

Earth is like a 24 hour, Seven days a week Stupidity contest which has been running for centuries.
And every time they are ready to pronounce a winner, a new contender appears on the scene.

* * * *

He has seen half the universe who has not seen the house of pain (Ralph Waldo)